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A32 sports
Diamars 15 maart 2022

A bigger bracket? NCAA transformation could lead to changes

(AP) - College sports most of the NCAA’s more keep their access,” Bowlsby
leaders are working to than $1 billion in revenue, said.
transform the top tier of with the payout projected
NCAA athletics, from to be about $870 million in While those mid-major con-
how Division I should be 2022. That revenue funds ference schools are mostly
governed to what should NCAA operations and cham- one-and-done in the tour-
be required of schools to pionship events in dozens of nament, the occasional up-
compete at the highest other sports and about $670 sets fuel the excitement of
level. million is set to be distrib- the opening weekend. The
uted to the schools through teams that pull them off such
Changing the NCAA could conferences. as UMBC, Oral Roberts and
lead to changes in its crown Florida Gulf Coast get to
jewel event — the Division How that pie should be di- bask in the national spotlight
I men’s college basketball vided in the future will no for a few days and carve out
tournament, the lucrative doubt be a point of conten- a place in college basketball
three-week, 68-team joyride tion. For basketball fans, the history.
that has become an American most obvious changes would
sports institution. satisfactory.” be how the size of the bracket And regardless of the results,
“At this point, I think it’s more and who gets in. simply getting the opportu-
What’s that mean? The men’s field of 68 for likely the committee would nity to compete against the
How about an expanded March Madness was set Sun- identify a minimum standard Currently, each of 32 Divi- teams that play most of their
bracket? Or more play-in day night. The games begin to be in Division I and within sion I conferences receives an games on TV is a reward for
games — just don’t call them with a First Four appetizer that, a minimum standard, to automatic bid for its cham- the athletes who don’t.
play-in games — and fewer on Tuesday and Wednesday have full access to Division I pion. The majority of those
opportunities for the small before the basketball bonanza benefits,” Cromer said. “And conferences, from the Amer- “They wanted that opportu-
schools to upset the tradi- commences Thursday across from there, the sport-by- ican East to Western Athletic, nity. They wanted that stage,”
tional powers? the country. sport review could emanate.” usually get just their auto- said Stony Brook athletic di-
matic qualifier into the field, rector Shawn Heilbron, who
“Well, it used to be a 32-team To be clear: The NCAA’s Buried beneath the bureau- access that also comes with was with the school in 2016
tournament, and it was a 48- Division I transformation cracy are a few essential several million in revenue. when the Seawolves won
team tournament, and it was committee, a group of 21 questions that will determine Last year, one unit earned the America East and played
64. And then it was 65. And administrators and univer- the not-so-distant future for making the NCAA men’s Kentucky in the first round.
now it’s 68,” Atlantic Sun sity presidents co-chaired of March Madness: What tournament was worth $2.02 The Wildcats won 85-57.
Commissioner Ted Gumbart by Southeastern Conference schools should be in Division million paid out over six
said. “So I don’t think there’s commissioner Greg San- I? Can schools with massive years. The power conferences, and
any magic number to say, hey, key and Ohio athletic direc- disparities in athletic budgets in basketball that includes
you can’t be 72 or 80. I think tor Julie Cromer, has not and resources continue to That’s not a much for a Pow- the Big East, typically earn
it’s healthy.” been tasked with remodeling compete against each other er Five league such as Bowls- the bulk of the at-large bids
March Madness. for national championships? by’s Big 12, the SEC or Big determined by the NCAA
How does an NCAA Tour- If so, what type of access to Ten, which have media rights selection committee. In this
nament with all 351 D-I The committee’s charge is championship events should deals worth billions based year’s field, those six leagues
schools sound? far broader, tackling issues schools from conferences mostly on their strong foot- received 29 of 36 at-large
“You could have an all-com- such as membership require- that have no realistic chance ball programs. For smaller bids.
ers tournament with just ments, governance and what to win them receive? conferences, that money is
one more weekend,” Big 12 the NCAA calls the “student- significant. Gumbart said if those con-
Commissioner Bob Bowlsby athlete experience.” They are And, of course, there is a ferences want more of their
said. “I think it’s an idea that expected to return a report to question of money. The Di- “There are a lot of leagues teams in the tournament the
might have the nuggets of the Division I Board of Di- vision I men’s basketball and a lot of schools that are simplest solution is to add
compromise that could be rectors in August. tournament accounts for going to fight to the death to more at-large bids.

Padres star Tatis has broken wrist, could be out 3 months

(AP) — All-Star short- late-season collapse that left
stop Fernando Tatis Jr. them with yet another losing
of the San Diego Padres record.
likely will need surgery
for a broken left wrist and Tatis, 23, had a series of in-
could miss up to three juries to his left shoulder last
months, general manager year, when he still led the NL
A.J. Preller said on Mon- with 42 home runs in 130
day. games and finished third in
balloting for the NL MVP.
Tatis apparently suffered the
injury early in the offseason The electrifying Tatis batted
and felt it when he began .282 with 97 RBIs and 25 sto-
preparing for spring training, len bases last year. His season
Preller said. also included two trips to the
injured list with left shoulder
Reports surfaced in Decem- issues and a trip to the CO-
ber that Tatis suffered scrapes VID-19 injury list.
on his hand and knee in a
motorcycle accident in his He signed a $330 million, 14-
native Dominican Republic. year contract with the Padres
during spring training last
The injury is a blow to a year.
team that was looking for a
fresh start following a brutal